Celtic breezed through their first of two friendlies in 24 hours without much hassle as they dispatched of Ross County at Parkhead this afternoon.

An early own goal from Coll Donaldson put the champions on their way to a comfortable victory before Moi Elyounoussi completed the scoring from a crisp attacking move to make it 2-0.

There was, of course, no supporters inside the stadium so the Parkhead club had canned fan noise blaring over the speakers throughout the 90 minutes. And, another aspect of coronavirus-enforced issues, was a socially distant huddle pre-match for the Celtic players. Socially distanced by the club's own decision after the Scots government gave the green light to perform the usual routine had they chosen to do so.

And it was a full strength Celtic XI who started the game, with Hibs in mind for another friendly tomorrow. One might expect the same home lineup on August 2 when Hamilton arrive in Glasgow for their first Premiership game of the new season. Scott Brown returned to the fold after missing the recent defeat to PSG in France and James Forrest replaced Olivier Ntcham.

For County, meanwhile, they had Celtic goalkeeper Ross Doohan playing for them between the sticks, listed as a trialist, but with a view to a loan deal should Neil Lennon be able to land a new goalkeeper before the beginning of the new campaign.

It didn't take long for Celtic to open the scoring, and it won't be a goal Coll Donaldson will ever want to think back on in a hurry. Greg Taylor did well to make space for himself down the left-flank and his cross into the box was sliced into his own net by County's defender. Doohan threw himself at the ball but couldn't get near it as it looped over his head.

Celtic's second was significantly more slick. James Forrest slipped Jeremie Frimpong in behind with a clever one-two down the right-hand side and the youngster's weighted pass found an advancing Moi Elyounoussi. He found the net with a precise first-time effort as County looked dead and buried early on.

Forrest had a drilled strike rattle the crossbar via Doohan's fingertips as the hosts tightened the screws. And it was the goalkeeper to thank again for the visitors after he raced out to meet Frimpong and keep out a shot from the Dutchman.

County had seriously struggled to step out of their own half but Connor Randall tested Scott Bain with a long-range drive. But it was almost a third for Celtic which followed when Ryan Christie's delivery from a set-piece found Christopher Jullien who couldn't quite set his feet properly as he scuffed his effort.

Panic might have set in for Neil Lennon when both Greg Taylor and Kris Ajer pulled up inside their own half. But while Ajer was able to shake off his knock, Taylor was forced off as it had been the third time the Scotland cap would require treatment during the first-half. Academy graduate Kerr McInroy replaced him before the whistle.

Neil Lennon resisted the temptation to ring the changes at half-time, instead opting to stick with the XI players who left the field at the break. And Ryan Christie was thwarted by Doohan from notching the game's third when his low shot was well blocked shortly after the restart.

Kerr McInroy was then kept out by Doohan before both Chris Jullien and James Forrest volleyed shots high and wide within a few minutes of each other. County had a rare venture forward after Frimpong had fluffed his lines to clear and Harry Paton cut the ball back from the byline on the left-flank. Former Hibs striker Oli Shaw was on the edge of the box and unmarked, but he scuffed his shot and it trickled out for a goal kick.

James Forrest hobbled off after what appeared to be an innocuous coming together but the water break came at the perfect time for him as he received treatment from busy physio Tim Williamson before play continued. 

Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City target Ross Stewart came off the bench and almost had an immediate impact when he played in Josh Reid. And the Staggies' number three forced Scott Bain into his first save of the game with 15 minutes to play. Oli Shaw and Harry Paton then both tested the Hoops 'keeper with strikes but he was equal to them.

Odsonne Edouard had been quiet for Celtic but should have scored late on when Forrest found him at the back-post. The Frenchman managed to steady himself but his deflected effort sailed over the bar.

The likes of Patryk Klimala and Karamoko Dembele may feel somewhat disappointed not to make an appearance from the bench, however both are likely to feature against Hibs. For Neil Lennon it was all about getting minutes into the legs of his top stars with the clock ticking down towards the new season.